asked the Postmaster-General whether be can state what is the present remaining stock of pedestal telephones; and by what date he anticipates it will be possible, when new telephones are installed, for up-to-date hand-microphone instruments to be supplied without extra charge?

The number of pedestal telephones in stock is over 200,000; and in addition there are about 1,000,000 of these instruments now in use by subscribers. I cannot say at present when it will be possible to arrange for the hand-microphone instrument to be supplied to subscribers without extra charge.